Improvement in horse hay-rakes



ZSheets--Sheetl B. OWEN.

Horse Hay-Rakes.

No.155957, Patented 0ct.13,1874.

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B. OWEN.'

-Horse Hay-Rakes.

Patented 0ct.13,1874..

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Wimggw WW UNITED STATES PATENT CDEEICE.x

BENJAMIN OWEN, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE HAV-RAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,967, dated October 13, 1874; application filed March 18, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN OWEN, of Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and in the State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Horse Hay Rakes and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan view ofthe upper side of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the ground-wheel upon the nearest side being removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical section upon line :v of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the holder or pivoted bearing for the forward end of a rake-tooth. Fig. 5 is a like View of one of the guides for insuring the lateral and vertical position of a tooth with relation to the other teeth; and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the bars employed for connecting together the rake-head and pressure-bar, and which furnishes a pivotal bearing for the rake.

Letters of like name and kindrefer to like parts in each of the gures.

The design of my invention is to increase the efficiency and ease with which a horse hayrake is operated; and it consists, principally, in the construction of the pivotal bearing for and its combination with the forward end of a rake-tooth,.substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown. It consists, further, in the means employed for insuring and varying the vertical position of the lower ends of the rake-teeth with relation to the surface of the ground, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

In the annexed drawings, A represents an axle having journaled upon its ends two ground-wheels, B and B, and secured to or upon its lower side the rear ends of two shafts, C and G, which latter extend forward and at a suitable distance from said axle are conneeted together by means of a cross-bar, D. At three or more points upon the upper side of the axle A are attached bearing-blocks E and E, within each of which is pivoted a metal bar, F, that has the form shown in Fig. 6, and at its rear end is secured to or upon the lower side of a wooden bar, G, and at its opposite or front end is attached to or upon the upper side of a second wooden bar, H, said metal bars F and F being arranged to rock within their bearings and move said connecting-bars Gr and H. At suitable points upon the upper side of the forward bar or head H are secured a number of bearingblocks, I and I, each of which is provided with a cap, I', that is held in place by the screw employed for attaching said block to the said head. Between the block I and its cap I is formed a round bear ing, t', that corresponds to and receives the forward bent end 7c of a rake-tooth, K, which tooth,`from said bearing, extends rearward, and is confined in lateral posit-ion by means of a lug, i', that is formed upon the end of said block, such attachment permitting said tooth to move freely in a vertical direction within certain limits upon the head H. From the head H each rake-tooth K extends rearward beneath the bar G and through a vertical slot, l, which is formed in a metal guidelug, L, that is attached to or upon the lower side of said bar, and from thence extends rearward, downward, and forward in a curve in the usual manner. The length of the slotl within each guide L is sufticient to give to the tooth contained therein all necessary independent motion with relation to the other teeth, while a spiral spring, M, contained principally within a circular cavity, g, immediately over said slot, bears upon the upper side of 4said tooth, and presses the same downward against the lower end of the latter.

This arrangement of the teeth insures the general uniformity of their positions, and affords to each a sure and sufficient support without interfering with such independent vertical motion as is necessary, in order to enable said teeth to conform to the inequalities ofthe ground. y

In order that the vertical position of the rake-teeth may be varied at will, the rear end of the center bearing-block E' is provided with horizontal teeth or serrations e, and upon or against such end is fitted a plate, E, the contiguous face of which is provided with corresponding teeth e', so that when said parts are held together by means of a screw, e, that passes horizontally inward from the rear, said serrations or teeth will engage and insure the vertical position of said plate. The

screw opening within the plate E is lengthened vertically, so asV to enable said plate to be moved in a like direction whenever the screw is loosened sufficiently to enable the engaging toothed surfaces to be separated. The upper end of the plate thus constructed and adjustedreceves the lower side of the pressure-bar G, and forms a bearing for and upon which the same rests. The rake is dumped by means of a lever, N, that has the shape shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is pivoted upon the crossbar D, and is connected to or with an arm, f, that extends in a curve upward and forward from the center bar F by means of a bar, O, which, at its end, is pivoted upon and extends between said Yarm f and a rearward projecting arm, u, of said lever. By moving rearward the upper end of the lever N the rake-head will be depressed and the pressure-bar and rake-teeth raised to the position shown in Fig. 3, while an opposite movement of said lever will cause said parts to resume their former position. By curving rearward the central portion of the lever N it is caused to strike against the arm f and arrest its motion, such construction of parts, by limiting the rearward motion of said lever, preventing all accidental contact between the hand ot' the operator and the rake/teeth.

teeth orV serrations e and e', and combined by means of the screw e, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of March, 1874.v

BENJAMIN OWEN.

Witnesses:

WILMER H. BELVILLE, E. J. LANE. 

